Luckily STBX and I have very similar last two digits on our SSN's, so no guess work there. I would assume they take the first SSN when you file jointly.

I'm still all bouncy over plans coming together. SO MUCH to do for this move, but inch by inch I'm getting things sorted.

No idea GC, haven't been to any b-day parties or showers in a while. I like seeing the reaction - means more to me than the thank you note, actually.

This happened at a wedding I went to last year

The wedding (or, rather, reception) itself? Or a wedding shower? Because, while I know that there are weddings where the bride and groom open the gifts at the reception, I've never ever been to one. I don't think they're that common.

I don't like the trend I'm seeing of not opening presents during birthday parties/baby showers. This has happened at the last three events I went to (cousin's daughter's 6th b-day, friend's daughter's 1st b-day, and another friend's baby shower). Why? I like to see the reaction to my gift and I like seeing all the other gifts. Getting a thank you card a week later is not the same thing! Is this truly a trend or is my crowd just whack?

I haven't seen this trend yet. I can't imagine going to a shower and not seeing the presents opened.

So if my SSN ends in 95, at least I can pretend for a while I'm getting a stimulus check, even though I'm not?

Hrmph. I want money too!

This happened at a wedding I went to last year (or the year before, can't remember exactly), but I'm not sure if that's uncommon.

Traditionally you do not open presents at a wedding.

Birthday parties I totally don't get

Agreed, especially a kid's birthday.

(don't know a thing about showers).

Since the point of a baby shower is basically presents for the baby, I don't get why you wouldn't open them there.

I've never been to a wedding where gifts were opened during the reception. I think that would be odd. But opening presents at birthday parties and showers is the way to be! I'd be sad if presents weren't opened at one of those events. I've yet to go to one where they aren't.

Agreed, especially a kid's birthday.

It depends on the age, but one line of reasoning is that opening presents publically is potentially humiliating for the kids who can't afford to bring presents.

Here it's pretty typical to not open birthday presents at a kid's birthday party. Maybe because that way lies jealousy and tears, when the kids are 3-4-5, which is the age range I know? Baby showers, otoh, do open presents.

ETA: There have been a decent number of "no presents please" kid birthdays, too, which IMO is practically necessary if you are inviting the class of 20. No kid needs 20 birthday presents at age 4.

My stimulus check is going towards VEGAS, BABY! (less than two weeks!).

Or, if it gets here late, paying everything we put off till after VEGAS, BABY!

Annabel's birthday party is tomorrow. It's going to be very small, just five of her daycare classmates, so if it's clear that everyone brought a present, we'll open them there.

I commented that at her friend Eli's party he hadn't opened the presents, so maybe it was Not Done anymore, and we shouldn't. DH said that no, they did open presents--we just left early.

THAT amazed me. That party had to have run over three hours with rampaging 3- to 5-year-olds. We got there late because it was the same day as our caucus, we were there at least two hours, and we weren't the first ones who left. I was completely drained by the experience, though to be fair the zoo of a caucus beforehand made me tired going in. But still, WAY too long for that age group, IMHO. Annabel's will be an hour and a half, because that's how long we have the room at the Children's Museum.